A group, Southern Nigeria Peoples Mandate (SNPM), on Wednesday lauded the Federal Government for directing Nigeria Police to mop-up all illegal arms and ammunition in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Federal Government through the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, recently directed all state police commands to mop-up illegal arms and ammunition.

The IGP said that all illegal arms and ammunition which had been in wrong hands in each state of the federation should be mopped-up.

The exercise also involved fresh verification and licensing of arms and ammunition earlier authorized by the police to be used by any individual in each state of the federation.

The President of the group, Comrade Augustine Chukwudum, gave the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu.

Chukwudum noted that the exercise had been long overdue; adding that if the mop-up had happened about two years before now, the spate of killings in the country currently would have been checked.

“However, it is not totally late; as the exercise if carefully done would save the country of future gunmen calamities.

“The SNPM is appealing to various teams handling the exercise in various state Police Commands to do the mop-up exercise without fear or favour.

“They should not allow any individual or group to intimidate them on this special assignment to rescue the country from activities of gunmen in every corner of the country,’’ he said.

Chukwudum also urged Nigerians irrespective of tribe, religion and political affiliations to assist these teams with useful information.

“Our people should play their part to ensure that arms and other light weapons in wrong hands are mopped up for the safety of all in our communities and villages,’’ he said. (NAN)